I know this is well after you posted Daemian, but I hope everything worked out for you. I would love a suitcase myself, but unlike you, I've never had my hands on one. I only have the audio (don't get me wrong, the audio is plenty) but I'm just the type of person who likes to get my hands on the product. Get the smells, and feel for it. One of these days I'll pony up for it on ebay and I'll make a deal with you. If it has Daemian on it, it's yours. For my cost of course, I'd need to reorder. Hope you find it man!

vinyl, cassette, 8-track, cd, digital -- it don't matter if the music's good. Yesterday I heard L'Amour Toujours on an old 78 on a grammophone -- NO ELECTRICITY!!! -- it was scratchy and the manually operated crank made for some unique wow and flutter, but I was transported in time and space and that one song satisfied me for the whole day. If you get confused listen to the music play ...

I apologize for inserting this here. I have to start somewhere. A few years ago I bought the summer 72 suitcase set. About a year ago things in my life had deteriorated to the point where I thought selling it was a good idea. I didn't get much, I won't get into it, and I was unhappy even while I was doing it. Now starts my quest to find it and buy it back, or I guess find one and buy it. I'd rather have mine. My name is Daemian, and that's what it says right on the suitcase.
I know this is totally irrelevant to all of you, I interrupted, I was the loser who sold it, why don't I just go buy one on eBay, etc etc. I'm sorry to hijack like this. I would just rather start this situation out by addressing some GD people about this thing I did that causes me more pain than I ever thought a thing could cause by being taken away. It's not just the music; I hadn't even listened to the whole thing. It's that the set was mine. It was my piece of my favorite era. It was my prized possession, and I think subconsciously I sold it to cause myself pain because i was so angry with myself for things I won't get into here.
If anyone knows an actual person who wants to part with their summer 72 set, or somehow wants to charge me considerably less for copies of the music - which would at least be a start - please contact me at daemian@mit.edu

Jackson Browne once suggested we call albums 'records' because they are, in fact, a record of a particular time and place in both our heads and hearts, prior to committing to vinyl cd tape, you name it. I prefer his broad and practical use of colloquialism to the 'gotta be this or that' approach that bespeaks a narrow-minded approach to such concepts.

I think I figure out why you dislike vinyl. The issue revolves around your use of the technology. First, a vinyl is called a record not a CD. Second, a record goes under your scratchy old needle not the CD. Third, if you have a scratchy old needle you should replace it.

This vinyl is amazing, worth the money even if I already have it 30TATS.

I agree with you that this should be available for download. I grew up on vinyl where you held that 12 by 12 piece of art gatefold cover in your hand as you listened to the music. Pre MTV/youtube, only in your imagination could you visualize what the band looked like while performing. Wondering how did they make this record, what exactly were they doing? (especially if you played an instrument). Your imagination ran wild and you had a connection. So for that reason I still get a kick out of vinyl, as well as that warm sound off the needle. Not yet 50 but I'm feeling old writing this...

I'm really disappointed that this wasn't released as a stand-alone cd as well. I've listened to it many times on the Archive and the preformance is just mindblowingly good. So is the sound considering it's age. But I prefer music on cd, not least when it comes to liveshows and there's no way I will this much money for a vinyl album.

Well, I'll just have buy that box set behemoth-thingie on ebay when I get my bonus this summer...

There s some questioning on deadessays.blogspot about whether the npc and alligator>caution is from 11/10 or 11/11. Those crazy 67 shows, no one has any idea about what's what it seems. I'm just glad we have more official 67, that is like the most confusing year in dead history but it's probably my fav. Even over 73 or 70. But that's me I like the mystery behind 67 and also the lack of history. It kinda sums up the whole "if you lived the 60s and remember it you didn't live the 60s" cliche. If I ever see this vinyl in real life I'll probably guilt trip myself into getting(like I did dp4)it otherwise I'm cool. I can't remember who but someone(actually 2 people)broke down the releases by year and I'm gonna throw a jab at you 80s and 90s people, which don't get me wrong I love too, so forgive me, 67 was the most under represented year. So until 67 gets a box quit your complaining. Just having fun don't attack me lol. In conclusion I just wanted to point out the 11/10 vs. 11/11 thing on alligator plus say some other silly things apparently.

Despite my comments about prices in the UK it is a really nice release and sounds great - I didn't go for the 30 years box set so cannot provide a sonic comparison...but in my humble opinion good records still outshine CD's and while hi-rez dowloads close the gap sonically I still prefer records

I was in a Barnes and Noble over the weekend and found a copy of this. I didn't buy it but I was excited to hold it in my hands and inspect it. It's a gorgeous piece of art in my opinion. Seeing it on the internet doesn't really do it justice. I see stuff like this as a collectible. Like was mentioned further down if you want to just hear the music it's easily attainable in one form or another. This is something for the serious collector. I for one am glad that products like this are still being made. As more and more music stores close down and the joy of shopping for music in person is slowly taken away it's refreshing that stuff like this is still out there. Still can't understand why anyone would ever complain about any Dead release in any form. It's all treasure to me. I buy what I want and leave the rest for someone else. Like a box of rain!

Like I said too bad they COULDN'T invest in a record plant. Key words, INVEST and COULDN'T. Never said it would be an easy venture. Well aware of the difficulties.

Having said that, records are being pressed in the strangest places, and with a hell of a lot less capital, know how and connections in the music production industry. New presses are being manufactured. People and businesses are investing in vinyl and its production. Read up on Josey records or Jack White's record label. Vinyl sales are increasing every year. Since it is a dying art, and vinyl is making a nice comeback, it would make sense to take advantage of the situation, find a press or two, and go from there. Doesn't have to be massive scale. Anyways, yeah definitely a huge task, but not a bad investment, nor is it much of a risk, not considering the demand there is for vinyl now.

It's not as simple as just "opening" a pressing plant. Opening such a plant is incredibly, incredibly expensive. Nevermind that good equipment is exceptionally rare, and prohibitively expensive and time consuming to build. And then you have to factor in the guys who actually cut the masters. That in itself is a lost art. All those guys are going deaf, blind, and dead with few young guys to replace them. Investing all that money without a guarantee of quality product is a bad investment. I agree that more plants should be opening to lessen the bottleneck, but it's a massive risk to take.

For everyone complaining about the price, it's worth noting there are copies on discogs & ebay for less than what dead.net is charging. Savings aren't massive, but $10 is $10 ...

...If the plan really is to charge more than double what is already a steep price for a 4 disc set.

Too bad the GD productions couldn't invest in a record plant. Might reduce costs and maybe make MORE shows available on vinyl! I'm sure it would pay for itself after 3-4 pressings. Could really open up the band's repertoire. Would love to see a reissue of Bob's "Ace".

With respects to pricing, from what I've been seeing here (Canada), it's not just Dead related stuff. I'm seeing a lot of very unreasonable pricing for vinyl re-issues. Single disc stuff for $28-32 US!

Maybe the huge jump in turntable sales last year will have a positive effect on pricing. Then again, it's the same people that maintained cd prices so high for such a long time that are pulling the strings with vinyl.

One thing is for sure. The narrow minded music execs have managed to increase the value of record shop's used stash all around the world.

The record shop in question is an honourable one and is very straight and resonable with prices.

As for high priced High Quality vinyl - I am realy pleased that the Dead are doing vinyl re-issues and am happy to pay the going rate for HQ re-issues - I also know I can walk away and not buy - freedom of choice - but then I also think it is fair to make my observation that the recent Dead Vinyl re-issues are more highly priced than most.

Splurge,
I made my mind up to hold back from the vinyl purchases a few days ago, a record retailer I have done business with does not bother stocking some of this over priced vinyl as he can,t add enough markup on it himself, and take the risk of not selling it for months.
It is down to personal choice, it's buyers who are willing to pay the high prices that perpetuate the ever rising costs.
Just look at ebay someone recently spent £200+ on a Dave's Picks Vol 1, unsealed and used, you can listen to this on the internet archive for considerably less.
Well, that's my gripe of the day is done with.
Rock N Roll.

I know you can vote with your feet and not buy - and was not going to comment until this morning when I saw the UK price for the RSD 2016 4lp Box Set of 25 April 77 posted on my local shops RSD List.

It is listed at £112.99!!!!!! that is close to $160. The Doors RSD 3lp set is £31.99 by comparison ( which is similar in price to the Yes 3lp set culled from the "72 concerts, the recent FMac Live album etc) and then you campare to the TMR Vault subscription series delivered to your door (a much better idea btw)

As a buyer of both Grateful Dead subscriptions and most big issues I still prefer vinyl and am pretty aware of relative prices of 180gm re-issues and consequently think the UK price is just plain unfair and appears to me to be very hard to justify - I feel as though we are being taken for a ride.

Quite a bit of anger with regards to pricing of GD music. While I understand the disappointment regarding the pricing of certain items, especially LPs, people need to remember that while the physical product of Grateful Dead music costs $$s, most of what is for sale is also available for free, both videos and music. It might not be legal to obtain a copy of something remixed and produced via the band itself, but the music is out there and in varied levels of quality. Soundboards, audience copies etc. In fact, GD music dominates all free streaming formats when compared to other bands. Also,if you are so inclined, GD music at lossless rates is easily found on the many different file sharing search sites. Oh, and of course, we can all remember, if old enough, how the Dead have literally gone out of their way to allow us access to all their shows FOR FREE.

The high costs of LPs is not solely a Dead thing, nor is it strictly isolated to Rhino records. The music industry as a whole is trying to maximize as much $s as they can for a product they still believe no longer has the potential for high volume sales. I've seen some comparisons here of different releases, one band's pricing vs another. Truth is, pricing of vinyl is all over the place and at times is definitely priced based on it's possible desirability or "cache?". Reissues climb in price because of their popularity and the term "limited release" is used quite frequently now just to justify the increased rate for a title. It's too bad but that's how things are. Talking to local record shop owners and seeing the ever increase in pricing, it sounds like there will be a full on campaign by the record companies to see exactly how much they can get from the public for new vinyl. Only way you can have a voice is by not buying it at certain prices. I for one am patient and persistent in waiting for price drops, sales and clearances. I managed to get Brookvales dp 4 release for under $50, the Hampton RSD release for under $30 and picked up One from the Vault for $25...all Brand new! Thankfully, especially with GD music, the music is still available FOR FREE!

Let me repeat that last sentence for those that want to call the Dead sell outs because of their product pricing. All their music is and always has been available for free whether its in cassette, dat, or reel to reel format or, in a variety of downloading and streaming formats. This is fact BECAUSE of the bands itself and its music is even MORE available now because of today's technology.

Newsletter

Get the latest news on Grateful Dead releases and more straight to your inbox.

Signup!

By submitting your email address you acknowledge and agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and are okay with receiving news, updates, special offers and occasional marketing messages from us and our affiliates.